Container



Sept. 18, 1934. J KRAMER 1,973,959

CONTAINER Filed May 1, 1933 INVENTOR. 1 .Ezg. 5' ALPHO/YSE wmenmse HAS ATTORNEY BYm JM Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONTAINER Application May 1, 1933, Serial No. 868,793

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container for holding fragile articles, such as eggs.

It is among the objects of my invention to ,5 provide an egg container which unites the two features of simple design and adequate protection.

Another object of my invention is to improve the construction of the filler employed for supm porting the eggs in a carton.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a filler which operates to reenforce the carton in which it is mounted.

A further object of my invention is to provide 35 a filler which improves the display made by the eggs in a carton.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

25 Figure 1 is a plan view showing a portion of the blank from which the filler embodying my invention is folded.

Figure 2 is a. transverse vertical sectional view or the container embodying my invention, and- Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but illustrating the variant embodiment of my- AG invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the variant construction, and is taken in a plane indicated by the line 6-+6 of Figure 5.

In terms of broad inclusion, the egg container A embodying my invention comprises a carton in which a filler for supporting the eggs is mounted. The filler preferably comprises an M-shaped section of sheet material; the V-shaped portion of which provides an egg holding trough and the leg portions of which provide supports along each side of the trough. Apertures are preferably provided in the trough for. pocketing the eggs, and 'one of the legs of the M-shaped section is preferably shorter than the other to lessen the amount .ot filler exposed so as to improve the egg display.

The longer leg of the section preferably extends to the rim of the carton to provide support for its cover.

In its preferred form the filler comprises a plurality of the M-shaped sections placed side by side with the adjacent legs connected to form an intermediate support of. double thickness. When used with a carton having an elevated bot-' tom, the apertures of the filler are preferably such that the eggs may pass through and rest upon the bottom of the carton. When used with a carton having an ordinary fiat bottom, the apertures are preferably formed so that the filler suspends the eggs above the bottom. In the latter case the intermediate supporting leg of my improved 7 filler operates to rigidly hold the suspended eggs away from the bottom.

In greater detail, and referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3, the filler embodying my invention is formed from a blank 2 of suitable sheet 7 material, which is scored along a plurality of substantially parallel lines 3. In a filler which is to hold a double row of eggs there would be seven of these score lines, as is shown in Figure 1. A double row of elongated apertures 4 are so provided in the sheet 2, one row being centered along the second score line from one edge of the sheet and the other row being centered along the second score line from the opposite edge of the sheet. 35

The filler is formed from the blank 2 by reverse ly folding in zig-zag relation along the score lines 3, and by making a substantially 180 fold about the central crease line to divide the filler into a pair of M-shaped sections, as shown in Figure 2. The filler is positioned within a 0&1: ton 6 so that the V-shaped portions l of the M- shaped sections extend longitudinally of the carton, with the outer legs 8 of the sections positioned adjacent the sides of the carton and the o5 inner legs 9 positioned adjacent the intermediate or central portions of the carton.

The V-shaped portions provide egg holding troughs, and the leg portions 8 and 9 provide supports along each side of'the troughs. The abutting inner legs 9 provide a support of double sheet thickness, which reenforced construction is desired 0'! this intermediate support because it carries the weight of both troughs.

From Figure 2 it will be observed that the egg 1 receiving apertures 4 lie within the V-shaped troughs '7 and provide pockets orseats for the eggs, which, as best shown in Figure 3, serve to hold the eggs in spaced relation along the troughs. The carton 6 is provided with an elevated bottom 11. In this type of carton construction the apertures a are preferably such that the eggs may extend therethrough and rest upon the bottom 11.

As shown in Figure 2, the spacing between the score lines 3 of the blank 2 is not uniform, but is such that the outer legs 8 of the M-shaped sections are shorter than the inner legs 9. The latter legs'preferably extend to a point slightly higher than the rim of the carton to provide support for the cover 12. The outer legs 8 have a heighth which is less than the depth of the carton. 'This latter feature decreasesthe amount of filler exposed and increases the amount of egg surface which is seen when the carton is opened. The advantage of this feature is that the container affords a better display of the eggs.

A variant form of egg filler constructionembodying my invention is 'shown in Figures 4 to 6. This filler is designed particularly for use in conjunction with an ordinary flat bottom carton 13, as shown in Figure 5. This construction differs from that first described in the shape of the egg holding apertures 14. In the present instance these apertures are provided with internally projecting lobe portions 16, which, when the blank is folded, form claws which engage under and support the eggs, as is best shown in Figure 6. This filler therefore operates to suspend the eggs above the bottom 1'7 of the carton. E

In this type of construction the intermediate support 18 performs an important function of holding the suspended eggs away from the bottom of the carton. With a fiat bottom carton it is exceedingly important that the spacing between the eggs and the bottom be preserved, otherwise the bottom will flex inwardly under impact and the eggs likely to become broken. The double construction of the intermediate support 18 provides a stiff partition extending between the bottom and the top of the carton and prevents inward flexing of the bottom.

In both of the forms of filler construction shown the adjacently positioned inner'legs making up the intermediate support may be additionally secured together by an adhesive or any other suitable means, or if desired no fastening means may be employed. The lower corners of this intermediate support are preferably blunt, as shown in Figure 6. This prevents any tendency on the part of the corners to poke through the carton. The removal of the sharp corners is preferably provided for bythe notches 19 formed in the blank of sheet material from which the filler is formed.

If desired the filler shown in Figure 5 may be used in conjunction with the carton shown in Figure 2. With this arrangement the egg receiving troughs and apertures may be shaped and proportioned so'that the egg is supported partly by its suspension in the filler and partly by its resting on the elevated bottom.

I claim:

1. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton,'comprising a blank creased and folded into an M- shaped section, theV-shaped portion of said section providing an egg holding trough and the leg portions providing supports along each side of the trough, said trough having apertures for pocketing the eggs and one of the legs of said section being shorter than the other to lessen the amount of filler displayed.

ing below the rim to lessen the amount of filler 2. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton, comprising a blank creased and folded into an M- shaped section, the V-shaped portion of s id section providing an egg holding trough and the leg portions providing supports along each side of the trough, said trough having apertures for pocketing the eggs, one of the legs ofsaid section extending to the rim of the carton to provide support for its cover and the other leg terminatdisplayed.

3. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton, comprising a plurality of M-shaped sections of sheet material, each section having a y-shaped portion cradled between two vertical leg portions, the V- shaped portions of the sections providing egg holding troughs and the leg portions providing vertical supports along each side of the troughs, said sections being positioned side by side with adjacent legs connected to form a vertical intermediate support of double sheet thickness.

4. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton, comprising a blank creased along a plurality of substantially parallel lines and folded in zig-zag relation with an intermediate portion folded substantially 180 degrees about a crease line to form a plurality of M-shaped sections.

5. An egg container comprising a carton, a filler comprising a plurality of M-shaped sections of sheet material, the V-shaped portions of 105 the sections providing egg holding troughs and the leg portions providing supports along each side of the troughs, said troughs having apertures for pocketing the eggs and suspending the same above the carton bottom,-the sections being 119 positioned side by side with adjacent legs connected to form an intermediate support of double sheet thickness for rigidly holding the suspended eggs away from said bottom.

6. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton, combeing folded substantially 180 degrees about their connecting crease line'to provide a supporting leg of double sheet thickness.

'7. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton, comprising an M-shaped section, the V-shaped portion of said section providing an egg holding trough and the leg portions providing supports along each side of the trough, said trough having seats for pocketing the eggs and one of the legs of the section being shorter than the other to increasethe visible portions of the eggs.

8. A filler for supporting eggs in a carton, comprising a blank creased along a plurality of substantially parallel lines and folded in zig-zag relation with an intermediate portion folded substantially 180 about a creased line to form a plurality of M-shaped sections, the intermediate portion so formed providing an upright partition between the bottom and cover of the carton.

AIJPHONSE .I. KRAMER. M5 

